U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins announced a block grant agreement with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to help growers recover from Hurricanes Idalia, Debby, Helene and Milton. Rollins made the announcement at CPI Planting in Felda, Fla.
USDA provides FDACS with $675.9 million in funding to administer a program that will cover infrastructure, citrus and timber losses in addition to direct market losses. USDA says this funding is part of the $30-billion disaster assistance relief effort authorized by the American Relief Act, 2025.
The agency said it is working with 14 different states, including Florida, to develop and implement block grants to address the unique disaster recovery needs for each state.
“America’s farmers and ranchers across the Southeast and in Florida have been hit hard and suffered significant economic losses during the last two hurricane seasons,” Rollins says. “USDA has worked closely with the State of Florida to ensure those impacted have the relief they need.”
USDA says it has also worked with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and FDACS to finalize a grant to cover qualifying losses not addressed by other USDA disaster programs.
“Florida’s producers have endured back-to-back devastating hurricane seasons, and this funding is a major victory that will help them rebuild, recover and continue feeding our state and nation,” says Wilton Simpson, Florida Agriculture Commissioner. “Food production is not just an economic issue, it’s a matter of national security — and we appreciate the president’s consistent support for our farmers.”
